As soon as Khushi
was by his side, he moved up closer and lifted her face with his
hand..."Goodmorning..."

Payal and Anjali
began cooing..."Ohhh she's blushing..."

Looking away, Khushi
said..."Can you two go and start being selfish somewhere else?"

Laughing, Arnav drew
her into his arms, hiding her from the world around...

She breathed him in
as she rested her head against his chest..."This is how I like it..."

"How's
that?..."

"...being close
to you..."

Arnav smiled...

................

"It will be
perfect." Anjali said decidedly.

Payal nodded
smiling..."We'll MAKE it perfect..."

"Have you heard
from him again?"

Setting her tea cup
down, Payal frowned..."No...and like you, I'm even a bit nervous about it
all...but maybe he will stay away until after the wedding...that way everything
can go smoothly..."

"Right..."
Anjali said loudly, making some random people around her look up...

She quickly smiled
apologetically and turned back to a smirking Payal...

"I mean to say...Right...that's a perfect scenario...I'm going to hope and
pray for that..."

"Me too. I did
tell Khushi early this morning that I had heard from Shyam. She barely reacted.
He doesn't mean THAT much to us. He has been merely a friend."

"Well..."
Anjali chose her words carefully..."Until we have something to worry
about, I will assume the positive. He is a friend..."

"Yes. The
Positive...Plus Khushi was far too focused on hurrying downstairs to see
Arnavji...she only politely asked if Shyamji was fine, and if we would be
seeing him..."

"You didn't
share your suspicions did you?"

Payal shook her
head..."No, definitely not...She has never shown interest in him. Not in
'that' way...and even as a friend, she was very antisocial...only coming out to
eat, give minor chit chat, and then she would retire to the kitchen to bake, or
to her room..."

Anjali stifled a
yawn..."I honestly haven't been this tired in years..."

Payal
smiled..."I know, it's those two...they bring the drama..."

.................

"I don't
understand...they are letting us make a decision?!?"

Arnav's heart jumped
hearing her high pitched voice...

"I mean, I have
heard constant decision made by them, and my input was merely sitting with
them! But now, they want us to look over the wedding arrangement and give out
opinion!? And what about work!? You need to be at the office! I honestly don't understand how they--"

Arnav spun her
around and dipped her, letting her fall backwards into his arms...

As their eyes were
playing games with each others, he whispered..."Finally..."

"huh?"

He
smiled..."Finally you trust that I wouldn't let you fall..."

Her cheeks flushed
in response..."I knew you were beside me...I knew you would steady
me..."

"Always..."

Quickly breaking
their hypnotized state, Arnav righted
her slowly, and looked at the coffee table covered with planners, folders and
magazines...

"THIS is
important. I want you to have exactly what you want. And as for work...it's
Saturday..."

She looked
up..."You don't work on Saturday..."

"I used
to..."

"I don't want
to keep you from anything you need to--"

He stepped closer
once again..."The only thing I NEED...is to be here with you..."

Four loud bangs made
Khushi suddenly jump towards Arnav...

"Whoa, calm
down...it's just the front door..."

Khushi looked up at
him feeling slightly embarrassed..."Sorry...sorry..."

He swooped in and
stole a kiss, before he walked past her and opened the door...

Arnav stared long
and hard at the man at his doorstep.

"Can I help
you?"

"Mr. Arnav
Singh Raizada?"

Arnav's eyes
narrowed..."Yes..."

"I am a friend
of Payalji and Khushiji Gupta..."

"A
friend...?" his mind started working hard..."How did you know that
they were here?"

"My name is
Shyam. I spoke to Payalji just the other day, She is expecting me..."

Shyam?

Arnav's heart felt
sudden pain and his mind clouded..."Shyam? Have we met before..."

Stopping in her
tracks, she spun around..."WHY! Why would you act that way!?"

"Because I am
your husband, and you are MY wife! I am trying to protect you..."

"You still have
to wait 48 hours until I am your WIFE!"

"No
Khushi...You..." he stopped himself before he said anymore...

Their focus was hard
on each others...

Her eyes misted as
she swayed toward him a fraction.

The room seemed to
be shrinking around them.

It grew ever hotter
and closer.

He barely resisted
the urge to touch her face, but instead lifted his hand to wrap a single stray
lock of hair around his fingertip. It was as soft as silk.

“I am jealous."
he said truthfully..."I am ready to explode the second I see him look at
you...There is something...He just...I'm sure I've seen him before...I don't
trust him Khushi..."

Sighing again,
Khushi took his hand..."Arnavji...He has been a good friend to us..."

"Dammit Khushi, can't you..."

They were now
standing very close...

He wanted to end
this argument and kiss her...

But as much as he
wanted to take that plunge, he knew she had a right to speak...

"Arnavji...I do
not care for him. I do not love him. I do not think of him...." she was
grinding out her voice in an attempt to remain calm..."I have told you
that all these years, my heart has been devoted to the love I thought I
lost...to YOU! You think that since reuniting with you, I would ever even
consider looking at anyone else?"

His heart swelled
hearing her confession, but he could see that she was still angry at his
outburst...

But just as he
gathered his strength to hold back, Khushi wrapped one slender hand around the
nape of his neck, and pulled him down for a hot, wet kiss that sent fire
shooting through his veins.

Khushi surprised
herself as much as she obviously surprised Arnav when she crushed her lips
against his.

But whatever shock
he felt seemed to disappear, for he brought his arms around her waist and
pulled her against him until it was more than evident that the desire that had
coursed between them wasn’t only coming from her.

In fact, Khushi
could feel the hard steel of his erection pressed against her thigh.

But instead of that
arousal frightening, she arched against it.

He took her silent
invitation with a fervor that pushed her even further over the edge.

His tongue swept
against her own, massaging her before he began to slowly brush across her
teeth, her cheek.

She gathered
sections of his shirt in her fists as she tried to keep from making another
sound with all her might.

She failed and a
deep, low groan of pleasure escaped her lips.

He cupped her face
and continued to grind his lips against hers.

First hard, then
soft, but never painful.

Never punishing.

Bit by bit, all her
defenses were eroded and she gave in to the pleasure with every part of her.

Every part of her,
yearned for his warmth...

He stared at her,
his face dark with desire and his eyes flashing with heat..."I'm
sorry..." he whispered against her lips...

She dropped her
gaze.

There was no way she
could concentrate with him staring at her like he wanted to have her on the
floor that very moment...

I believe anjali and payal have made a very grave error of judgement in not telling arnav and khushi their suspicions with regard to shyam... he sure is creepy... barging into their house and speaking as if he owns khushi... of course, arnav making decisions as to whether khushi shpuld interact with shyam or not is only going to put her back up! hopefully, arnav will understand that she feels rejected and will do something to reassure her... also hope she'll tell him about shyam's call for all that secrecy will only add to the danger... scared about the future because shyam is downright obsessive!